This Is the Latest City Asking Its Residents to Voluntarily Surrender Their Firearms for Cash

191

Shares

Email this story to a friend

Credit: AP

TheBlaze previously reported on the gun buyback program conducted by the city of Camden, N.J., where residents turned in about 1,137 guns — a new record for the city. Now, in New York, the Ithaca Police Department and Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office are asking their residents to give up their guns to decrease the number of guns on the streets, the Post-Standard reports.

“The goal of the program is to remove unwanted guns from our community before they fall into the hands of those that may do harm,” a law enforcement source said.

The purpose of the buyback program is apparently to encourage Americans to voluntarily surrender their guns in exchange for immediate cash, including as much as $200 for some semi-automatic rifles.

Law enforcement officials will also take non-functioning guns, BB guns, air-soft guns and air-rifles — only they won’t pay anything for them.

“Citizens may turn in as many guns as they want, but there is a limit of three to receive cash. Photo ID is required for accounting purposes. During the buyback program, the law enforcement agencies are granting participating citizens with amnesty and immunity from prosecution,” the Post-Standard reports.

The gun buyback program is backed by Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick and the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office.

The buyback program will be held on Jan. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Ithaca, N.Y.

Do you think a gun buyback program is an effective way to combat gun violence?